Samoa migrants not put off by tough New Zealand economy

Tough economic times are not putting off the number of people in Samoa looking for a new start in New Zealand, with three thousand more people than last year registering their interest under the annual quota scheme.

Immigration New Zealand's Pacific regional manager says this year almost 18-thousand people applied under the scheme, which is limited to one-thousand one-hundred places.

Alan Barry says over the past couple of years the quota has not been met.

This year the electronic ballot system has pre-selected just over one-thousand three-hundred people to help make up any shortfall when the quota is decided.

"In good, strong economic times, then the quotas are hit relatively easily compared to when the economy isn't so strong because the job offer is the key to a successful quota application."

Alan Barry says it's possible that rebuilding work in Christchurch and new construction projects in Auckland will increase the number of jobs available to prospective migrants from Samoa.